The Power Of Good People

Para was barely five years old when civil war erupted in Sri Lanka. Nearly three decades later it ended in appalling horror and bloodshed. Tens of thousands of innocent civilians died. Survival required courage, ingenuity — and the kindness of strangers. This is Para’s story of survival against all odds. In May 2009, Sri Lanka’s long and dreadful civil war was finally brought to an horrific end. Ruthlessly driven to a small strip of land on the tip of the island’s north-east coast, tens of thousands of innocent civilians died, smashed by artillery, killed by snipers, denied medical treatment, and starved to death beneath the baking sun. This ferocious battle consolidated and highlighted the terrors of the preceding twenty-six years of war, characterised by vicious murders and desperate acts from both sides, where civilians were bombarded, kidnapped, raped, and tortured with impunity. In such a vicious war, was there any room for humanity? Para Paheer’s story could be one of tens of thousands, except that he lived to tell the world of the horrors; but more importantly, to record and pay tribute to those courageous people without whom he would probably not be alive. I know that I would not have survived without help from many people. Many put themselves in danger and at least one person died for me. It’s time for me to remember them, and to thank them … all the good people who helped me through those terrifying times when life was hard, and survival often only a matter of chance. While in Christmas Island Detention Centre, Para became penfriends with Alison Corke, a member of the Apollo Bay branch of Rural Australians for Refugees, in Victoria. On his release from detention in 2011, Para moved in with the Corke family. “From our first letters, exchanged while Para was in detention and trying to improve his English, I knew he was an exceptional young man, with an astonishing tale to tell. I am proud to be helping him share his story and to find and thank those people who helped him survive, often against massive odds … Time and again, Para and I agreed that it is the little things that matter most — those small, often unremembered acts of kindness that can change someone’s world. We all have the power to do something; only we can choose whether to use that power for the good."

First with your head and then with your heart ...So says Hoppie Groenewald, boxing champion, to a seven-year-old boy who dreams of being the welterweight champion of the world. For the young Peekay, its a piece of advice he will carry with him thr...

The media's bias toward stories of conflict, violence, and division is bad for your health. In this book, Hal Urban shows how to find the positive and uplifting all around us. The news media thrives on bad news. In recent years, the political climate has become vitriolic and divisive, our country seems more polarized than ever, and news feels inescapable because technology has significantly increased its reach. People who like to stay informed need a lift. Most people are aware that what they eat greatly impacts their physical health: junk food is bad, vegetables are good. Hal Urban argues that we can nourish our minds by choosing how we consume news, and that when we surrender all that choice to media and external forces, we give up our growth, freedom, and mental health. Countless signs of progress and acts of kindness exist all around the world if you know where to look. And there are positive aspects in our own lives—family, friends, simple beauties, and everyday generosities—that we take for granted. This book helps readers understand that, as the late Zig Ziglar said, "You are what you are because of what goes into your mind."

Pankaj K. Singh is among the foremost writers in the country who writes on thought-provoking subjects of national importance. His writing provides the readers and ordinary citizens a new perspective and understanding of subjects. Pankaj K. Singh’s previous books-‘Samarth Bharat’, ‘Pakhandmukt Bharat’, ‘Jaisi Shiksha Waisa Desh’, ‘Ye Hain to Hum Hain’, ‘Paryavaran Bachayen Jaagen aur Jagaayen’, ‘Bhartiya Videsh Niti’, ‘Hum badlenge jag badlega’, ‘Badlen aadaten badlega desh’, ‘Shramev Jayate’, ‘Hum Hain Sab Sansar’, ‘Kahin der na ho jaaye’, ‘Desh ki girti sehat’, ‘We are B'coz of You’, ‘Swachh Bharat’, ‘Creation of New India’, ‘Are we the last generation’, ‘Are we ready for change’ have been liked by the readers all over India. Pankaj K. Singh has a keen understanding of topics of national interest. Because of his extensive thinking and vast experience, the articles that he writes in various National Newspapers and magazines are very interesting and factual. Pankaj K. Singh has been doing thorough research and study on all the topics and areas that can act as norms for establishing India as a developed and glorious country. Pankaj K. Singh has been doing commendable work on nation building. This book is an endeavour to change ourselves. It enthuses and inspires citizens to contribute in the process of nation building.

The Power of Good Deeds allows us to see behind the media image of upper-class women and to observe how these women use their social power not only to benefit other, less-fortunate people, but also to benefit themselves and their families. The personal narratives of elite women as they describe their views on philanthropy, the need for exclusivity in their by-invitation-only volunteer organizations (such as the Junior League and The Links), their childhood experiences and college years in prestigious schools and sororities, and the debutante presentations and other upper-class rituals in which they participate are drawn from Kendall's ethnographic research. Participating in meetings and social functions with elite women in several Texas cities, along with conducting systematic interviews, the author gained unprecedented access to elite women across racial and ethnic categories. The Power of Good Deeds provides new insights and greater depth to our knowledge about the upper classes and how the charitable activities of privileged women contribute to the process of legitimation, maintaining an ideology of class-based and race-based segregation in the United States.

Seventy short, heart-warming stories of acts of kindness by strangers with contributions by prominent Australiana, including comedian Jean Kittson, writer Peter FitzSimons, news presenter Tracey Spicer, Youth Off the Streets' Father Chris Riley, media personality David Richardson, Wayside Chapel's Reverend Graham Long, politician Pru Goward, Pulitzer Prize winner Geraldine Brooks, and many others. This is an inspiring look at the best of humanity. From small acts of charity to selfless acts of kindness, The Power of Good shows that the human spirit is replete with noble and generous deeds.

Tools, resources and real-life role models for young women eager to start their own political journeys. No matter where you live or who you hope to represent, the experience of running for office is different if you are a woman. This one-of-a-kind insider’s guide for young women interested in elected office covers what to expect, how to deal with the inevitable challenges, and why it’s worth it. With honest, uplifting stories of women who have run, detailed how-to instructions for campaigning and loads of further resources, here’s a book to transform young women’s “I’ll think about it” into “I’ll do it!” The women leaders of tomorrow will be unstoppable!